NO on the King Amendment!
We must stop this sweeping attack on the rights of states to protect the health, safety and welfare of our citizens. Oregon does a fine job managing OUR states affairs and certainly doesn't need a congressman from Iowa dictating Federal authority to Oregon and every state in the Union. Meet Congressman King, from Iowa, his dangerous legislation would not only takeaway the right of states to enact beneficial laws in the future, but could repeal dozens upon dozens of laws already set in place across the country, including Oregon's laws protecting dogs in puppy mills and regulating confinement of pregnant pigs and egg-laying hens. Heedless of consumer safety, animal welfare, and other important public policy considerations, the U.S. House of Representatives recently passed an amendment to the House farm bill that would eliminate states' rights to enact laws that protect farm animals from cruel factory farm conditions, dogs in puppy mills, and horses from being cruelly slaughtered for human consumption. This amendment was added by Rep. King, who boasts about his lack of concern for animals or their welfare. I'm urging Congressman Greg Walden and the rest of Oregon's congressional delegation do the right thing and work to erase this harmful clause of the House farm bill. More importantly, I'm urging my fellow Oregonians to call their members of Congress and urge them to vote NO on the King Amendment.
—Cyndi Davis
In Reply to "There is No Free Concert," (Feature, 7/25)
I can't see moving to a place—or even visiting it as a tourist - because of the music. But then, so far John Williams and the Boston Pops have not been on the list of free concerts anywhere in Central Oregon...
—Brian J
Ode to Summer Veggies
In winter, tomatoes are not what they seem
They look like they're red but they taste like they're green.
But in summer, a whole different fruit arrives
Luscious with flavor, they bring tears to my eyes!
These gorgeous red spheres, bursting with life
Call out for a plate and a fork and a knife.
Now corn and green beans can complete the scene
Of deep-summer feasts to feed wintertime dreams.
So give us these magical things from the ground
Long and yellow or juicy and round;
Make them fantastic, keep poisons away
If bugs eat them too, we know they're okay.
Yes, give us these jewels of summer right now
Tomatoes and corn are much better than cow.
The haze and the heat give us a thrill
'Cause that's what it takes to grow veggies this real.
—Veggie-Eddie Kinnamon
In Reply to "Janie (and Everyone Else) Has a Gun," (News, 8/1)
"Fortunately, homicide cases in Bend are few—there's been only one so far in 2013. And other offenses were notably down since 2012."
This may be so, but what about the fatal shooting of Shane Munoz in June of 2012 by Kevin Perry in Bend? NEVER FORGET THAT...IT IS STILL AN OPEN CASE.
—Ravyn
In Reply to "Hold the line" (News, 7/4)
I am pleased to see new growth opportunities via EDU, but first we have significant infrastructural issues that MUST be addressed within the UGB before we should be seeking expansion of any kind outside of it.
The schools bond passed overwhelmingly, with no restrictions to where a school could be built, so it makes sense that developers would push the issue for their own interests.
—Timothy, alilinstitute.com
In reply to Bend Noise Ordinance Hypocrisy (8/1 Letter to the Editor)
The Lacey Cox story hits close to home, and I sympathize with the writer as we have had a similar problem. Recently a cutsey fartsy restaurant opened on Greenwood, right around the corner from us. After a few days trucks started arriving and unloading at the rear door of the establishment, a stone's throw from our bedroom, at all hours of the night and wee hours of the morning, and not being at all quiet about the activities. When I called the local gendarmes to inquire about he legality of all this I was coldly told that it is a commercial area and restaurants typically receive their supplies at night, and end of story.
In the Cox case however, you "would think" that when she called the city to point out the noise ordinance specifically prohibiting the activities taking place on her street at night, that someone would have been obligated to respond to her. I find that very strange on one hand, but on the other hand not so strange.
It just seems to be the way it works in our society that if you have political, financial or fame (rock star, movie star, jock star, porn star) clout, your voice will be heard. Without this clout you will be just another one of the many belonging to the class of the disenfranchised. The city obviously could afford to work only during the day on the Scoot St. Project, because there is hardly any traffic during the day. But the city probably got a dirt-cheap bid from some contractors on the condition that the project only take a certain number of days, and therefore to hell with Lacey Cox and her rights.
It's too bad Ms. Cox doesn't want to sue the city—maybe she does—but that would require a lot of time and money that she probably doesn't have or want to commit to this cause. Hopefully the sleepless nights so graciously bestowed upon her by the city won't continue until she loses her job, but then the city of Bend could care less. She's just another of the disenfranchised many with no political, economic or fame clout.
It is a sad truth in our society that the amount of freedom and justice one enjoys is directly proportional to the quality of legal representation one can afford. Most Americans would not, out of blind ignorance, agree to this, but one has to look only to the pornographic examples of the verdicts of the OJ Simpson and Trevon Martin cases to see the sordid facts.
—America Uber Alles
